NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee

Can you put the safety puzzle pieces together? See the jigsaw puzzle page.

When you use public transportation...

When motorists see a (yellow school bus), they know that children may be nearby, but although many children in New York State take a school bus to school, many others take public transportation - a public bus or the subway. Whether you use a public bus or a school bus, there are some safety rules you should follow.

The table below lists some rules that are the same for all buses.

All Buses

If you are waiting for a public bus or a school bus, wait at the bus stop, and stand well back from the curb. When you get off the public bus or the school bus, you need to take  (five giant steps) straight out of the bus door. There are danger zones near public buses and school buses where the driver cannot see you.

Below is a picture of the area around a bus where the driver can't see you.  This area is the same for all buses and large trucks.

The next table lists some rules that are different for public buses and school buses.

 

Public Buses

School Buses

Drivers of vehicles traveling on a street with a city bus do not have to stop when city buses stop to pick up and drop off school children. When a school bus stops with its red flashing lights on, drivers on both sides of the road must stop. NOTE: Public buses move away from the bus stop as soon as passengers have gotten on or off. School buses wait for children getting off the bus to cross the street in front of them before leaving the bus stop.

NOTE:  Most public bus stops are at intersections. As soon as you get off the bus, you need to be alert.  You should never cross the street in front of a public bus.   Wait for the bus to pull away so you have a clear view of the street. Cross at the cross walk or street corner, and wait for the light to turn green or for the WALK crossing signal. Please see the Kids Safe Walking Page for the signs, signals and roadway markings which help you cross the street safely.

If you take the subway...

If you take the subway, you may need to take an escalator to the subway platform. Strollers and carriages should never be used on an escalator. Very small children should be carried on the escalator with the person carrying the child holding on to the handrail. Young children should have an adult or older child hold their hand. The young children should not hold the handrail, because they are not tall enough to reach it safely.

Never play on the subway platform. It would be easy to fall off the platform onto the subway tracks. When the subway stops in the station, there is a space between the platform and the subway. It is important to watch your step when getting on or off the subway so you don't fall onto the tracks. Young children will need help getting on and off the subway.

When you walk to and from the bus stop or subway station:

• You should cross the street at a crosswalk or a street corner, and wait for the light to turn green or for the WALK crossing signal.
• It is important to look carefully to the left, right and left again before you cross the street.
• If you must walk through parked traffic, stop and look carefully before stepping out from between vehicles.
• Don't run across the street or through a parking lot. When you are walking in these areas, you need to give your full attention to traffic.

Bikes & In-Line Skates | Car Seats & Seat Belts | Public Transportation | Railroad Crossings
Safe Walking | School Bus & School Zones | Traffic Sign Quiz | Traffic Sign Quiz Answers

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http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/kid-tran.htm -- Revised: March 01, 2004
Copyright © 2002  NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee

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